Positive Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus IgM assays in primary HIV infection

J Med Virol. 2011 Aug;83(8):1406-9. doi: 10.1002/jmv.22109.

Abstract

We report three cases with misleading cytomegalovirus (CMV) or Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) immunoglobulin M (IgM) results during primary human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. We determined the rate of positive anti-CMV IgM assays or anti-EBV capsid antigen IgM assays in sera from a group of well-characterized subjects with primary HIV infection as 2.9% (1/35; 95%CI: 0.15-16.6%) for each infection. The rate of positive anti-EBV capsid antigen IgM assays in subjects with positive hepatitis A virus IgM assays was 30% (6/20; 95%CI: 14.6-51.9%). Clinicians need to consider the limitations of IgM assays for diagnosis of herpesvirus infections, and consider testing for other infections with overlapping clinical manifestations.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • Cytomegalovirus / immunology
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / diagnosis*
  • False Positive Reactions*
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / complications*
  • Hepatitis A Antibodies / blood
  • Herpesviridae Infections / diagnosis*
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin M / blood*
  • Male
  • Pregnancy

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Hepatitis A Antibodies
  • Immunoglobulin M